Baseball Writer Rob Neyer: Pirates Were Not Losers At Deadline
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) -- SB Nation Senior Baseball Writer Rob Neyer joined The Fan Morning Show on Thursday to discuss his feelings on the Pirates after failing to make a deal before yesterday's non-wavier trade deadline.
Neyer says that the Pirates having a two-and-a-half game lead over the Cardinals on Aug. 1, would make them the team to beat in the division. But, don't count out the Cardinals. He thinks that this will be a tight race to the end for the division title and would call them co-favorites to win the division.
He thinks that the Reds can't be counted out, but will have a hard time making up six games in two months when chasing two other teams.
The Cardinals suffered what Neyer called a big loss in having to place catcher Yadier Molina on the 15-day disabled list. He says no other team could replace the loss of Molina but the Cardinals. He thinks although the backups are not even close to being as good, there is enough on this team to keep them in the race.
"The pennant race does not hinge on Molina, especially if he is only out a couple of weeks" Neyer said.
Neither team did much to help themselves yesterday at the deadline, but as Neyer points out, nobody in the league really did much. He admits that the second wild card plays a role because it has more teams thinking they are in the race. However, he doesn't blame the lack of activity on it because they had many deadline day deals last year in the first year of the second wild card.
Neyer tells the guys the Pirates would have loved to add a right hand power bat or possibly another arm to assist in the bullpen. Neyer said they are not perfect, but they will be fine.
"Every team would love not to have a weakness," Neyer said. "Even the 1927 Yankees had a weakness."
Neyer thinks the Pirates are good enough to accomplish big things with the team that they have, but points out they could still add through the end of August through the waiver deadline.
He doesn't expect any drama in the National League races. The only one that will be close to the end is the one between the Pirates and Cardinals because they still have so many games head-to-head.
"What you see in the standings today may be what you see in two months," Neyer said.
The interview can be heard here:
